Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 270
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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After parting ways with Kang Seol, Chiwoo, Seolhong, Mia, and Hye-myeong raced toward the path indicated by the golden statue.
“This way!”
Chiwoo took the lead, serving as their guide.
Contrary to their expectations, the path ahead twisted and wound about, growing increasingly complex.
Signposts were embedded here and there—markers they wouldn’t have noticed without awakening to Watara’s teachings.
Hye-myeong bit his lip hard.
The longer time dragged on, the more cold sweat beaded on his face.
He was worried about Kang Seol, whom they had left behind.
- Keep moving forward, Hye-myeong.
- …And you?
- I’ll stay here.
- Why?
- I’ve already got what I came for.
Kang Seol’s cryptic words.
‘Kang Seol….’
Hye-myeong couldn’t pick up the pace.
Something was holding his feet back. This action now, so contrary to his values.
“…Hye-myeong?”
“What’s wrong?”
He spoke in a subdued tone.
“I’m not sure if this is right.”
“…….”
“Leaving Kang Seol behind feels like we’re forcing him to sacrifice himself.”
Seolhong replied as she ran ahead.
“He’s far stronger than you think.”
“…What?”
“If he can’t pull it off, no one here can.”
* * *
Karuna’s voice echoed from the shadow space.
- You’re still full of energy, Jamad.
- Yeah, I’ve had a good long rest, so I’m overflowing with vigor.
Kang Seol was checking over the various changes in Jamad’s status.
‘…Is this really the same guy?’
Normally, when a summon’s rank increased, it wasn’t a total overhaul—key aspects would shift, like deriving origin power or setting a growth direction for swordsmanship.
But Jamad’s changes upon becoming an Immortal were on another level entirely from previous evolutions.
‘No way… is this the power of nothingness too?’
If he’d had the time, he would’ve etched each and every alteration into his mind one by one.
But the enemy before him now wasn’t the gracious type to stand by idly.
It was Geosundae, one of the three ghost generals.
- No need for long talks, I suppose.
Drrrrrrrr…
A sinister aura poured from Geosundae’s body.
Zzzzzzzt…
[Geosundae uses ultimate skill: Ten Thousand Hands.]
[Creature: Cursed Hands ignore reuse cooldowns and continuously regenerate. However, each regeneration consumes an additional 20% mana.]
“Cramped in here.”
Kwaaaaaang—!
The corridor exploded in an instant, revealing the vast space they had passed through before entering.
‘…The wider it is, the better for him.’
Geosundae could freely adjust its true size, capable of becoming far larger than it was now.
In open space, it could leverage that advantage, whereas for Kang Seol, a wide area held little meaning.
No matter how massive Jamad was, it couldn’t surpass Geosundae’s scale.
Whoosh…
Whoosh… whoosh…
Dozens of Geosundae’s hands floated up into the air in a flash.
Jamad scoffed at the sight.
- You’ve prepared quite the tasty morsel, Kang Seol.
Then, through an inner resonance, it spoke to Kang Seol.
‘Merge with me, Kang Seol. Understanding comes first.’
‘Merge?’
‘Yeah. If he’s sloppier than he seems, you won’t even need to step in. Hand over control to me, and get used to my energy in the meantime.’
There was no reason to refuse Jamad’s suggestion.
‘Alright.’
Shoooo…
The night raven’s aura thickened further.
[Maintaining form of Immortal being and Night Raven.]
[Ultimate skill: Night Raven proficiency greatly increases.]
Kang Seol glared at Geosundae.
[Geosundae]
Rank: Immortal
Estimated Level: 45~50
The evil dragon Hwagmu had three ghost generals who faithfully carried out his commands.
They terrorized an entire era, their names whispered far and wide. But when Hwagmu fell to Hongcheon, the three generals’ ghost legion crumbled.
One of them, Eoduksini, was sealed away by Dragon Emperor Hongcheon, and news of Geosundae and Du-eoksini ceased thereafter.
They seemed destined to be forgotten.
Until now, with Geosundae appearing here.
Basic Abilities: [Persistent: Painless], [Persistent: Sovereign’s Authority], [Persistent: Oppressive Spirit] [Guiap 3], [Command: Crush 4], [Command: Whip 3], [Command: Clap 3], [Command: Slam], [Command: Stack 5], [Command: Pinky Promise 1], [Command: Interlock 2]
Special Abilities: [Ultimate: Ten Thousand Hands], [Ultimate: Limited Paradox], [Ultimate: Thousand-Armed Guanyin]
Around the same level bracket as Eoduksini.
However, by prior accounts, Geosundae was the stronger ghost.
‘And it has its full power intact… this won’t be easy.’
Whooooong…
Suddenly, a bizarre energy scattered from Geosundae.
Like spilling the Milky Way across the sky, something sparkled in the pitch-black space.
- A domain.
“You’ve noticed that, so you must realize it’s already too late?”
- Hmph….
Shoooo…
A domain typically wielded by swordsmen or martial artists. Geosundae had made it its own—and tweaked it in a peculiar way.
Grrrrind…
The floating debris parted to the sides as if possessing a will of its own.
‘That’s its specialty.’
Telekinesis? Spatial manipulation? Whatever it was called, Geosundae attacked using that power.
Combined with its spiritual body form, it made for a nightmare matchup.
Just like now.
‘This is why the matchup’s bad.’
Kang Seol had always toppled foes with straightforward abilities. Raw power for power, speed for speed. Steady exploitation of superior traits.
Against an irregular like Geosundae, such straightforwardness faltered.
‘Even Hye-myeong, who awakened Watara’s power… no, he used the wasteland spirit too.’
It was hard to imagine Geosundae losing in a straight power contest.
“Welcome to my unknown realm.”
It sneered mockingly at Jamad.
Jamad asked Kang Seol.
‘You know about it?’
‘Just that physical force doesn’t work well.’
‘Looks pretty rugged for that.’
‘You’ve got a good eye. Exactly.’
‘In other words… a sneaky bastard.’
Kang Seol warned Jamad.
‘Jamad, this guy….’
‘Just watch from there, Kang Seol.’
Snikt…
Jamad grinned.
‘The changes in this body of mine.’
Clap—!
Jamad clapped his hands, and two skulls floated into the air.
[Using multiple origins.]
[Using two or more origin powers.]
[Efficiency of used origins decreases by 10%.]
They looked familiar—part of the skulls adorning the bracer Jamad wore when transcending nothingness.
Clack clack clack…
The foreheads of the skulls bore markings identical to those carved on primordial bones.
- Just a taste, ghost.
“Shouldn’t you be going all out?”
- No need to fret.
The skulls opened their mouths, spewing words.
【A sea of flames shall rise….】
[Origin power of sulfur activates.]
[Origin power: Wildfire used.]
[Wildfire continues to expand until sulfur origin power is depleted.]
[Caster is immune to wildfire damage.]
[Wildfire generates immense heat and smoke.]
[Enemies touching the heat have a high chance of status: Burn. Burn deals 1% of current HP per second for 3 seconds.]
[Burn has a chance to evolve into status: Scorch after duration ends. Scorch deals 1% of max HP per second for 5 seconds.]
[Additional effects scale with wildfire’s size.]
A rather unique ability.
It seemed effective when surrounded by many foes or against large types.
“Hmph… I just won’t touch it.”
- Think you can manage that?
Clack clack clack…
The second skull.
【Lightning shall purify.】
[Origin power of lightning activates.]
[Origin power: Lightning Strike used.]
[Lightning strikes continuously fall on the battlefield until lightning origin power is depleted.]
[Caster is immune to lightning strike damage.]
[Lightning strikes mark positions with Lightning Seals. Seals are periodically etched on the ground where enemies stand.]
[Lightning Seals require a brief delay to activate.]
‘Lightning falling across the battlefield?’
He didn’t know the extent of the lightning damage, but could it threaten Geosundae?
In the end, only clashing would tell.
And now, the fight began.
[Geosundae uses command: Slam.]
[Cursed Hand strikes the designated target.]
Creaaak…
Fists formed from hands rained down on Kang Seol in unison.
Kugugugugung…
A barrage of fists.
The night raven vanished beneath the onslaught.
“…Where’d it go?”
Geosundae tilted its head.
The night raven’s aura dispersed in an instant. Geosundae didn’t think Jamad or Kang Seol would fall to a single blow.
[Using Nightmare.]
[Recent damage transferred to creature.]
Fwoosh…
Ravens took flight.
“That was close.”
- You dodged it, so it’s fine. We’re one body. I knew you could handle that much.
“…….”
Kang Seol muttered to himself like he had split personalities.
‘…The creatures are back.’
Countless naturally proliferated ravens swarmed around him.
Fwoooosh—!
The hands that had crushed his previous position were all engulfed in wildfire, reduced to ash.
- Still trimmed the numbers a bit.
Shoooo…
The night raven melted into the smoke from the wildfire.
Geosundae mocked Jamad.
“Your resistance is one-dimensional.”
- Multidimensional attacks await now, so rest easy, ghost.
Geosundae’s senses swept the space.
It would punish the sorcerer who foolishly thought hiding here would save him.
“There you are!”
[Geosundae uses command: Interlock.]
[Cursed Hands interlock, combining damage.]
[Geosundae uses command: Slam.]
[Cursed Hand strikes the designated target.]
Kwaaaaaang—!
Flash!
Kwaaaang—!
Flash!
It spotted and struck immediately, but the night raven proved elusive.
“Not just for obscuring vision, then.”
The wildfire smoke obscured sight, and when expanded, massively boosted evasion.
For Kang Seol, loaded with evasion options, it was the perfect defense.
“Fine… how about this?”
Geosundae gestured.
Whoooong…
[Geosundae uses command: Stack.]
[Cursed Hands stack and crush the target.]
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
Kwaaaaaaaaaaang!
This time, Geosundae sealed off escape by pressing in tight.
Kwaaaaaang!
Kwaang!
Yet the night raven suddenly halted.
Rumble—!
A lightning bolt crashed down over the night raven’s head.
Pzzzzzzzzzzt…
The cursed hands clustering around were charred black, crumbling to soot.
Jamad smirked atop the lightning seal. Clear provocation.
“Taunting me won’t help. Your defeat is sealed.”
- …Why’s that?
“Your attacks can’t touch me.”
- Hmmm….
As Jamad eyed Geosundae with interest, Kang Seol spoke up.
‘Jamad, you have a plan?’
‘Somewhat. But figuring out how to make contact.’
‘Make contact?’
‘Yeah. Once we touch it somehow, we can deal damage.’
‘Then what if we try this?’
Kang Seol relayed his idea to Jamad, who smiled in satisfaction upon hearing it.
- Ah… that could work. Let’s go with that.
Geosundae faltered slightly at Jamad’s calm demeanor, even with it right in front.
“Starting to get on my nerves.”
[Geosundae uses command: Whip.]
[Thrown projectiles deal damage proportional to Cursed Hand attack power and apply effects on hit.]
Whip!
Whiiiish!
Whiiiiiish!
With ruins’ debris everywhere, Geosundae conserved mana by hurling chunks at the night raven.
Kwaaaang!
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
Kwaang!
Easily dodged attacks, but unlike hands, the debris seemed endless.
Plink…
Factoring in splashing fragments, perfect evasion was impossible.
Sizzle…
Jamad took a few hits from minor shards.
“…Got you.”
- What?
[Geosundae uses command: Pinky Promise.]
[Target touched once by Cursed Hand is briefly restrained.]
[Status: Bound.]
[High Priest activates.]
[All status effects removed.]
[Final status: Bound transfers to Geosundae.]
“…What?”
Flash—!
Jamad tried to slip away in the gap, but another fragment struck while bound.
[Geosundae uses command: Pinky Promise.]
[Target touched once by Cursed Hand is briefly restrained.]
[Status: Bound.]
High Priest didn’t trigger this time.
‘Bound once, and it’s death. Got it.’
Kang Seol clicked his tongue at the absurd pattern but didn’t despair.
Jamad still had plenty of cards left.
Whoooong…
A massive rock fragment hurtled in.
Clack clack clack…
Jamad’s third skull emerged.
Clap—!
Jamad clapped.
[Phantom Beast Summon: Shadow Wolf activates.]
[Persistent: Surprise Appearance activates.]
[Happy Coco influences Jamad’s ability.]
- Come forth, wolf.
Crackle…
Boom—!
A black creature tore through space and swallowed the mountain-marked skull in one bite.